NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This weekend, the Tennessee State track and field teams will wrap up their respective Indoor Seasons in the OVC Championship on the campus of Eastern Illinois.

The Tigerbelles are looking to win back-to-back titles after being crowned champs last season at home.

“There is definitely pressure to repeat [as champions],” head coach Chandra Cheeseborough said. “We have to realize that winning the second one is much harder than the first. I hope everyone will have their game-face on and ready to perform.”

Two big pieces to the women’s success in last year’s Championship were Clairwin Dameus and Amber Hughes. Damues got TSU off on the right foot by placing first in the Pentathlon with a total score of 3,625. Hughes then ran a scorching 7.68 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles to take top prize while Dameus placed second.

The dynamic duo later teamed to break the OVC record in the 4x400 meter relay with a winning time of 3:42.73. Both are back this season and are looking to do even better.

“In addition to her other events, Amber has been competing in the triple jump the last few weeks and the first time she competed, she jumped 40 feet. She is very confident she can get us at least 40 points,” Cheeseborough said. “Clairwin is the ultimate competitor. She is second in the pentathlon right now, but she came from behind last year, so we know she can win from that spot.”

The Flying Tigers will be trying to improve upon their third place finish a year ago and will welcome back Quamel Prince who came up big for TSU by winning the 800-meter dash by nearly two whole seconds after completing the event in 1:51.44.

“Quamel is an awesome athlete and very humble. He is the type of person who can do anything you ask, and do it well. I am looking for great things from him this weekend and moving forward,” Cheeseborough said.

One member who wasn’t there for last season, but who has had success this year, is freshman Jemarruse Amos. In TSU’s last event, he clocked the second fastest time in the OVC in the 60 meter hurdles, placing second with a time of 8.22 seconds.

The events will start Friday, Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. with the pentathlon and conclude on Saturday at 4 p.m. with the 4x400 meter relays.